Mini-Profile: Breast Cancer Survivor Katy Tessman Stanoch

Katy Tessman Stanoch of Minnetonka, Minn. was diagnosed with breast cancer after her first mammogram. On her 40th birthday, she had a double mastectomy. When Katy’s hair fell out “like dry leaves,” her mom shaved it off.

Katy’s husband Dave celebrated with her on Valentine’s Day 2009, below, and their son, Louis, wrote this haiku for his mother. He was 6. His brother, Maxwell, was 3.

Mama lost her hair
like dead autumn leaves it fell
looks like a fighter.